Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Bohol Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Bohol

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $963 per month in Manila vs $697 in Bohol, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,522 per month in Manila vs $1,109 in Bohol, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,081 per month in Manila vs $1,520 in Bohol, rent included.

Manila costs about 38% more than Bohol, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Manila and Bohol are more affordable than the global median – Manila 28% lower, Bohol 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.39 ₱333

$3.63 ₱224

48.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.79 ₱1,652

$35.42 ₱2,185

-24.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.54 ₱280

$4.52 ₱279

0.44%

Cappuccino

$2.62 ₱162

$3.20 ₱198

-18.13%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.98 ₱60.7

$0.81 ₱50.0

20.99%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.54 ₱33.20

$0.37 ₱22.80

45.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.48 ₱91.5

$1.30 ₱80.2

13.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 ₱168

$2.07 ₱128

31.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ₱121

$1.84 ₱113

6.52%

White Bread (500g)

$1.40 ₱86.1

$1.21 ₱74.6

15.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.03 ₱63.7

$0.94 ₱57.9

9.57%

Eggs

$2.07 ₱128

$1.99 ₱123

4.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.11 ₱562

$7.80 ₱481

16.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.20 ₱321

$4.14 ₱255

25.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.70 ₱537

$8.76 ₱541

-0.68%

Apples (1kg)

$3.40 ₱210

$2.87 ₱177

18.47%

Banana (1kg)

$1.81 ₱112

$1.60 ₱98.4

13.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.66 ₱226

$2.60 ₱160

40.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.52 ₱155

$1.57 ₱96.6

60.51%

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 ₱173

$2.09 ₱129

34.45%

Onion (1kg)

$3.09 ₱191

$2.63 ₱162

17.49%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.99 ₱123

$1.10 ₱67.9

80.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 ₱42.31

$0.71 ₱44.08

-2.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.44 ₱212

$2.42 ₱149

42.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.98 ₱616

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 ₱92.2

$1.21 ₱74.3

23.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 ₱135

$2.02 ₱125

8.42%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 ₱29.78

$0.28 ₱17.29

71.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.83 ₱730

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.93 ₱57.2

$0.77 ₱47.54

20.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ₱16.72

$0.22 ₱13.53

22.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.16 ₱133

$2.12 ₱131

1.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 ₱68.8

$1.25 ₱77.0

-10.40%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$26.6K ₱1.6M

$26.2K ₱1.6M

1.28%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$23.0K ₱1.4M

$20.6K ₱1.3M

11.63%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$135 ₱8,306

$112 ₱6,909

20.22%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$22.00 ₱1,357

$33.21 ₱2,048

-33.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.98 ₱1,726

$27.82 ₱1,716

0.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.05 ₱2,594

$18.65 ₱1,150

125.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.00 ₱431

$4.45 ₱275

57.30%

Cinema Ticket

$6.73 ₱415

$5.62 ₱346

19.75%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$365 ₱22.5K

$149 ₱9,183

145.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K ₱713.2K

$4,264 ₱263.0K

171.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.97 ₱2,897

$45.73 ₱2,821

2.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.01 ₱2,159

$26.96 ₱1,663

29.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.7 ₱5,041

$75.8 ₱4,674

7.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.98 ₱2,836

$52.8 ₱3,259

-12.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$489 ₱30.1K

$143 ₱8,808

242.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$270 ₱16.6K

$107 ₱6,599

152.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,687 ₱104.1K

$528 ₱32.6K

219.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$630 ₱38.8K

$228 ₱14.1K

176.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,325 ₱266.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,640 ₱162.8K

$543 ₱33.5K

385.89%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$452 ₱27.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.52

6.67

12.74%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Manila: April 27, 2026

Last update for Bohol: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $489 in Manila versus $143 in Bohol. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $27.00 in Manila versus $35.00 in Bohol. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Manila vs $189 in Bohol – so Bohol wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Manila vs Bohol: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Manila is pricier by about 38%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,444 per month in Manila and $1,046 in Bohol. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Bohol, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $963 in Manila and $697 in Bohol. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $365 per month in Manila and $149 in Bohol. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Bohol, where all-in costs run around $697, than in Manila at $963. In Bohol it covers expenses comfortably, while in Manila it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Bohol – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Bohol. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Manila makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.